Apparatus for sampling strip material



Aug. l5, 1950 H. H. TALBOT APPARATUS RoR SAMPLING sTRIR MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1948 T Rm E 0 E H .d wf

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Aug. l5, 1950 H. H. TALBOT APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING STRIP MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1948 INVENTOR. Hon/4R0 72u Bor NM Aug- 15, 1950 H. H. TALBOT APPARATUS FOR SAMPLTNG STRIP MATERIAL Film1 May 4, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 All@ 15, .1950 H. H. TALBOT 2,519,159

APPARATUS FoR sAMPLING STRIP MATERIAL Filed May 4, 1948 4 sheets-sheet 4 Hon/42p /6/ 77% 607" elements.

Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED. STAT APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING STRIP MATER IAL Howard H. Talbot, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to United -Engineering `da Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 4, 1948, Serial No. 24,987

This invention relates to apparatus for removing samples` from sheet material for determining characteristics and quality of the material and, more particularly, to apparatus of this. character which is capable of selecting the samples from rapidly moving continuous strip metal without interrupting the movement thereof.

Although many types of equipment have been proposed and used for this or similar purposes, it has been found that due to the bulkiness as well as slow speed cf operation thereof, the forward speed of the strip from which Asamples are to be selected must be reduced considerably or movement of the strip interruptedentirely in order to permit positioning ofthe cutting dies and actuation thereof so that no ragged edges, tearing 12 claims. (ci. 164-99) A further object of this invention is to provide sampling apparatus having cutting elements associated therewith which may be rapidly DOSI- y tioned into and withdrawn from cooperative cutwill become apparent from the following detailedi of the strip or jamming of the processingline y will take place. Should this precaution not be exercised, ragged edges 4will occur at the section of the Vstrip from which a sample or samples are selected and cause damage either to equipment through which .the strip will be passed for further processing or to over-lapping convolutions of the strip itself if immediate coiling there- .of-this invention is to provide apparatus for removing sample portions from rapidly moving strip material without causing damage either to the material or to the sample selected, and without involving the necessity of withdrawing y the strip cutting assemblies and frame from their transverse positions relative to the strip'for adjustment purposes or for re-setting the cutting Another object of this invention is to` provide apparatus the cutting elements of which are padapted to be shifted transversely of rapidly `moving strip material for selecting a sample rtherefrom at any point desired across the width thereof.

Still another object Vof this invention is to provide sampling apparatus having means associated therewith for retrieving a sample immediately upon the selection thereof from rapidly moving `strip material with which the apparatus is associated. Y

description LAand accompanying drawings of which.:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the sampling apparatus embodying the features of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the appara- -tus shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is an end elevation view taken at III-III of Figure 1:

Figure 4 is an end elevation view taken at IV IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section of the sampling apparatus taken at V-V of Figure 1, and f Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control system for the sampling apparatus. With reference to the drawings, Figures .l through 5, the apparatus embodying the features of this invention for sampling rapidly moving strip material includes a frame consisting of a base II, a pedestal I2 secured to one end thereof,

an outwardly extending arm I3 perpendicular tov and integral with pedestal I2, and a second pedestal I 4 secured to the base II atthe op-l posite end thereof. A plurality of flanged wheels I 5 rotatably secured to the base I I are adapted to engage with a pair of tracks I6 upon which the framev can be reciprocated to any desired position.

At the outboard end of arm I3 and upon the pedestal I4 are rotatablyfmounted a pair of drums I1 and I9 carrying a female die or cutting element assembly I8 and a male die or cutting element assembly 2l respectively, adapted to be placed into and Withdrawn from cooperative relationship with one another, at desired intervals.`

for taking a sample SI from rapidly moving strip material S passing therebetween as shown in through gears 24 and 25, keyed to the inboard ends of the respective shafts and located within secured to the shaft of the .variable speed electrif cal motor 21, having a rheostat 21a mounted on the frame thereof, attached to the base `For moving the frame and the 'elements mounted thereon alon-g the tracks I6, a hydraulic motor 28 is provided, connected to a source of hydraulic power, not shown, supported upon a platform 28a located beneath and between the tracks I6 and having a reciprocable piston rod 29 extending therefrom secured atthe outward end thereof to the frame base by means of bracket 30.

Coupled to the inboard end of shaft 23 is a high speed cam type limit switch 3|, to be more fully described hereinafter, mounted on a platform 32, for controlling the extension and withdrawal of the dies from their cooperative cutting positions. The platform 32 extends transversely of base and is welded at the outer ends thereof to the sides of a frame reinforcing member 33 which is an integral part of the pedestal I2. A tachometer generator 34, for indicating the tangential speed of the die members I8 and 2|, is driven by the variable speed motor 21 through a gear 35, keyed to the extended shaft supporting the pinion 26, which meshes with a second gear 36 secured to the shaft of the tachometer 34.

As shown in the drawings, particularly in Figure ,5, the mechanism for extending and retracting the die or cutting element assembly 2| consists of a pair of solenoids 4| and 42 mounted upon a platform 39 secured to the base II, a pair of armatures 43 and 44 respectively received therein, a bell crank 40, having arms 45 and 46, rockably mounted upon a shaft 41 supported in suitable bearings provided in reinforcing ribs 50 of pedestal I4, a pair of links 43a and 44a being secured to the exposed ends of armatures 43 and 44 and to the outer ends of arm 45, a draw bar 49 with a ball and socketjoint 48 at one end thereof and within which the outer end of arm 46 is received, and two links 5I and 52, forming a toggle within drum I9, fastened at their ad' jacent ends to the inner end of draw bar 49 by means of a pin 53 passing therethrough. Through the outer end of link 5| a pin 54 is passed to secure the link to a cross head 55, slidable within guides 56 formed in the drum I9, and to which is secured, by a bolt 51, the die or cutting element assembly 2|. The link 52 is attached, by means of pin 58, to an element 59 fastened within and to the edges of the drum I9 by bolts 6|. The end of shaft 23 passes through and is keyed to the hub 62 of the drum I 9. The opposite hub 63 is confined within a bearing 64 supported within lthe housing 65 ofthe pedestal I4. A bearing cap 66, secured by bolts 61 to the housing 65, is provided with a bracket 68 having an adjustable stop 69 secured thereto and against which the end of the arm 45, secured to link 43a, is adapted to strike thereby to limit the amount of upward movement thereof.

The assembly |8 consists of a hollow cylindrical die or cutting element 1| closed at one end and within which is provided a cylindrical resilient sample-ejector 12 secured to a base plate 13 through which passes a bolt 14 for re,

taining the assembly within the recess 15 formed on the surface of the drum I1. Two adjustable locking bolts 16 passing in an axial direction through the edges of the drum I1, engage with the cylindrical element 1| near the bottom and at diametrically-opposite points thereof so that the female die assembly I8 can be positioned and locked in place for proper registration with the die male portion 2| 4when a sample is to be punched from the strip.

` So that the strip readily may be fed between the two rotating drums |'I and I9, the drums are flared at their edges 11, guard 18, surrounding drum I1, curved upward at its lower surfaces 'I9 substantially to' conform to the arc dened by the flared edges 11 of drum I1, and guard 8|, partially enclosing drum I9, curved downwardly together withrthe upper portion 82 of pedestal I4 so as substantially to conform to the arc defined by the flared edges 11 of drum I9. A guard 83, enclosing the housing 65 and the toggle operating mechanism, is secured at the top edge 84 thereof to the upper portion 82 of the pedestal I4 and at the bottom to the platform 38.

An air apron 85, positioned beneath the strip, is provided with air under pressure supplied from a source, not shown, and is attached to the pedestal I4 at the exit side of the rotating drums I1 and I9. The air apron 85 insures that a sample, which has been punched from the strip and ejected from between the dies, will positively remain above the strip and be projected into the sample retriever 86 attached to a base 81 secured to a pedestal 88 mounted on a foundation 89. A billy roller 9|, the shaft of'which is supported in suitable bearings 92 mounted on the pedestal 88, is provided at the exit side of the apparatus for assisting in guiding the strip downward beneath the retriever 86 to a coiling device or the like.

The control circuit for energizing and deenergizing the two solenoids 4| and 42 as shown on Figure 6 includes a plurality of relays, the first of which consists of a coil |0I and a pair of normally open contacts |`0 Ia, the second a coil |02 and two pairs of normally open contacts |02a and |02b, the third a coil |03 and two pairs of normally open contacts 03a and |03b, the fourth a coil |04 and twopairs of normally open contacts |044 and I04b, as well as two pairs of normally closed contacts I04c and |0411, the fth a coil I 05 and two pairs of normally open contacts |05a and |05b,' as well as one pair of normally closed contacts |05c, and the sixth a coil |06 and two pairs of normally open contacts I06a and |0612. Also within the circuit is a push button 00 of which element I00a is normally closed and element |00b normally open. The

high speed cam type limit 'switch 3|, referred to hereinbefore, includes two cams 3|a and 3|b which are rotated into their closed and open positions by rotation of shaft 23 to which the limit switch 3| is connected. A two-pole fused knife switch 91 is provided, which, prior to the starting of motor 21, is closed so that power will be available for the control circuit, the power on condition being indicated by a lamp 98, in series with a suitable resistance 99, connected across the electrical lines LI and L2. Two switches |01 and |08 are provided for use in case an emergency arises, being operated as a unit so that when switch |01 is opened to cut on? the current from the solenoid 4|, the switch |08 will be thrown to its alternate closed position whereby solenoid 42 is caused to bridge the two main electrical lines LI and L2 and become re-energized.

The tangential speed of the rotating cutting elements can be very simply synchronized with the speed of the rapidly moving strip material, first by making a comparison ofv the tachometer generator reading with lthat of any suitable strip-speed denoting instrument which may be associated with the moving strip preferably adjacent to the strip sampling apparatus, and, if it.

is found that there is a diiierence between lthe speed of the 'strip and the tangential speed of the rotating dies, the rheostat 21a, which is provided in the shear motor circuit. can be adjusted sothat the tangential speed oi the dies will coincide with the speed of the strip.

ting element supporting main frame the required transverse distance along the tracks.

When the shear motor 21 is placed in operation, the tachometer generator 34 will produce a current suflicient to energize the relay coil I0| which will cause contacts |0|a to close, thereby setting up the circuit to permit the full line current .to pass through and energize relay coil |02 to cause contacts |02a and |02b to close, thus to seal the second relay into the circuit. As soon as contacts |0|a close, the full line-current will pass through the circuit comprising normally closed contacts |04c, switch |00 and relay coil |00.' Energization of coil |06 causes contacts |06a and |06b thereof to close thereby permitting the full line current to pass through and energize solenoid 42 whereby armature 44 is drawntherein positively to prevent the male die or cutting element assembly 2| from unintentionally being projected outwardly.

When a sample is to be selected from the rapidly moving strip material, the operator depresses the push button 00 causing element |00a thereof to become separated from its contacts and break the circuit in that portion of the line, and element |00b to bridge the contacts asociated therewith thereby permitting full .line current to passk through and energize relay coil |03 so that contacts |03av and |03b associated therewith are closed to seal the third relay into the circuit. Since the sealing into the circuit of relay coil |03 with its contacts becomes complete as soon as the push button is depressed, the operator can immediately release the push button |00 to permit the elements |00a and |00b thereof `again to rise to their positions as shown in Figure 6. As

will be noted in the wiring diagram, Figure 6, cam 3|a of the high speed can type limit switch 3| is shown in the closed position and cam Sib in its openv position. However, on rotation of the dies to a point in advance of the cutting position cam 3|b will be brought into its closed position causing the full line current to energize relay coil |04 thus to close contacts |04a and |04b, sealing rel-ay coil |04 into the circuit, and the normally closed pairs of contacts |04c and |04d to open, thereby de-energizing solenoid 42 and relay coil |02 respectively. The closing of contacts |04b permits the full line current to pass through and` energize relay coil |05, switch |01 being in its closed position, so that the two pairs of nor- .mally open contacts |05a and |0512V are closed and the normally closed contacts |05c opened. The closing of contacts |05a and |05b permits the full line current topass through and energize solenoid 4| thereby rapidly drawing armature 43 into the coil and actuating the toggle mechanism Y associated therewith. The male die or cutting element assembly 2| is thus immediately proiected outward and heldin the extended position so that on further rotation of the vdrums I1 and I0 the two die or cutting element assemblies I0 and 2| will come into coperative cutting relationship with the strip and remove a sample therefrom.

As soon as the cutting elements pass beyond their cutting position and are clear of the strip, the timing of limit switch 3| is such that the cam 3|a thereof will move to its open position immediately to de-energize relay coil |03 thus opening the contacts |03a and |031. The opening of contacts |0312 causes the circuit of relay coil |04 to be interrupted, thereby de-energizing coil |04, which causes contacts |04a and |04b to open and contacts |04c and |04d to return to their normally closed positions. The opening of contacts |04b interrupts the ilow of current to relay coil |00, thereby de-energizing the coil |05 to cause contacts Ilia and |05b to open, thus de-energizing the solenoid 4|. The closing of contacts |04c causes relay coil |06 again to be energized so that contacts |06a and |06b are closed and solenoid 42 energized immediately, thereby drawing plunger 44 into the coil to actuate the toggle mechanism whereby the male die portion 2| is quickly returned to its non-extended position.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodimentthereof. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for selecting samples from moving strip material comprising a pair of rotary carriers between which the strip passes and which are so mounted that the axes of rotation thereof are in planes at right angles to the plane of the strip, a pair of cooperating cutting elements mounted in said carriers which have such a size and shape whereby on operation a section of the strip is removed having a lesser width than that of the strip, means for selectively moving one of said cutting elements in its carrier so as to cause a cut to be made or missed as the carriers are rotated, and means for synchronizing the speed of said cutting elements with the speed of the strip.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 having means for shifting said carriers to a pre-selected point transversely of said strip.

3.' Apparatus according to claim 1 having means for retrieving a sample selected from the strip.

4. Apparatus for selecting samples from moving strip material comprising a pair of cutting elements between which the strip passes, rotatable supporting means for each of said elements, driving means for said last-mentioned means, means for shifting said supporting means to position said cutting elements at a pre-selected point transversely of said strip, means for bringing said cutting elements into and out of cooperative cutting relationship with said strip for removing a sample therefrom, control means for actuating said last-mentioned means, control means for said rotatable supporting means for synchronizing the tangential speed of said cutting elements withthe speed of said strip, means for ejecting from between said elements a sample selected from said strip, and means for retrieving said sample.

5. 'Apparatus for selecting samples from moving strip material comprising a pair of cutting elements between which the strip passes, rotatable supporting means for each of said elements, means for shifting said supporting means to position said elements at a pre-selected point transversely of said strip, means for rotating said elements at a `tangential speed coinciding with the speed of said strip, a toggleassociated with one of said elements. means connected to said toggle for bringing said element into and out of cooperative cutting relationhip with the other of saidelements and with said strip for removing a sample therefrom, resilient means for ejecting from between said elements a sample selected from said strip, and means for retrieving said sample.

6. Apparatus for selecting samples from moving strip material comprising a pair of cutting dies consisting of a male and a female member between which the strip passes, independent rotatable supporting means for each of said members, means for shifting said supporting means as a unit for positioning said die members at a pre-selected point transversely across said strip, means associated with said supporting means for rotating said die members so that the tangential speed thereof will coincide with the speed of said strip, means for extending one of said die members into cooperative cutting relationship with said strip for removing a sample therefrom, and for returning said member to the non-cutting position thereof, resilient means associated with said female die member for ejecting therefrom a sample selected from said strip and means for retrieving said sample.

7. Apparatus for selecting samples from moving strip material comprising a frame, a pair of driven drums supported by said frame and between which said strippasses, a cutting die consisting of a female member attached to one of said drums and of a male member attached to the other of said drums, speed adjustable driving means for rotating said drums and imposing upon said die members a tangential speed equivalent to the speed of said strip material, means for extending said die male member beyond the periphery of said drum to which said male member is attached whereby on rotation of said drums said male and said female members are brought into cutting relationship with said strip, means for retracting said male member, control means for actuating said extending and said retracting means, resilient means associated with said female member for ejecting therefrom a sample received therein on completion of the cutting operation, and means for retrieving said sample.

8. Apparatus for selecting samples from moving strip material comprising a frame, a pair of driven drums supported by said frame and between which said strip passes, a cutting die ,consisting of a female member attached .to one of said drums and of a male member attached tothe other of said drums, said male member being normally so disposed with respect to saidfemale member that upon rotation. of said drums said members when in their most adjacent positions are out of cooperative cutting relationship with respect vto one another, speed adjustable driving means .for rotating said drums and imposing upon said die members a tangential speed equivalent to the speed of said strip material, a toggle connected to said die male member,- a pair of solenoids associated with said toggle whereby upon energization of one of said solenoids said male member is -projected outward, thereby to come into cooperative cutting relationship with said die female member when next adjacent thereto, and upon energization of the other of said solenoids said die male member is withdrawn to the inoperative normal position thereof. control means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoids in timed relationship with said rotating drums, resilient means associated with said die female member for ejecting therefrom a sample received therein on completion of the cutting operation, and means for retrieving said sample.

9. Apparatus for selecting samples from moving strip material comprising a frame, a pair of driven drums supported by said frame and between which said strip passes, a cutting die consisting of a female member attached to one of said drums and of a male member attached to the other of said drums, said male member being normally so disposed with respect to said female member that upon rotation of said drums said members when in their most adjacent positions are out of cooperative cutting relationship with one another, speed adjustable driving means for rotating said drums and imposing upon said die members a tangential speed equivalent. to the speed of said strip material, a pair of links connected to said male member, a bell crank, a draw bar connected at one end to said links and at the other end thereof to one arm of said bell crank, a pair of solenoids, an armature positioned within each of said solenoids, connecting links between said armatures and said bell crank, control means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoids in timed relationship with the rotation of said drums whereby said armatures are actuated and said die male member is projected into and withdrawn from the extended position thereof, a resilient element within said die female member for ejecting therefrom a sample received therein on completion of the cutting operation, and means for retrieving said sample.

10. Apparatus for selecting samples from moving strip material comprising a frame, a pair of driven drums supported by said frame and between which said strip passes, a cutting die consisting of a female member attached to one of said drums and of a male member attached to the other of said drums, said male member being normally so disposed with respect to said female member that upon rotation of said drums said members when in their most adjacent positions are out of cooperative cutting relationship with one another, means for shifting said drums to position said die members at a pre-selected point transversely of said strip, speed adjustable driving means for rotating said drums and imposing upon said die members a tangential speed equivalent to the` speed of said strip material, a toggle connected to said die'male member, a pair of solenoids associated with said toggle whereby upon energization of one of said solenoids said male member is projected outward, thereby to come into cooperative cutting relationship with I said die female member when next adjacent thereto, and upon energization of the other of said solenoids said die male member is withdrawn to the inoperative normal position thereof, control means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoids in timed relationship with said rotating drums, resilient means associated with said die `female member for ejecting therefrom a sample received therein on completion of the cutof driven drumsv supported by said carriage and between which said strip passes, a cutting Vdie consisting of a female member attached to one of said drums and of a male member attached to the other of said drums, said male member being normally so disposed with respect to said female member that upon rotation of said drums said members when in their most adjacent position are out of cooperative cutting relationship with one another, means for shifting said carriage to position said drums and said die members carried thereby at a pre-selected point transversely of said strip, speed adjustable driving means for 1 rotating said drums and imposing upon said die members a tangential speed equivalent to the speed of said strip material, a pair of links connected to said male member. a bell crank, a draw 1 bar connected at one end to said links and fat jected into and withdrawn from the extended cutting position thereof, a resilient element within said die female member for ejecting therefrom a sample received therein on completion of the cutting operation, and means for retrieving said sample.

l2. Apparatus for selecting samples from moving strip material comprising a pair of carriers between which the strip passes and which are so mounted that the axes of rotation thereof are ir. planes at right angles to the plane of the strip, a pair of cooperating cutting elements mounted in said carriers, means for shifting said carriers to a pre-selected point transversely of said strip REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent: s

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,304,0.. Edwards May 29, 1919 2,393,745

Brunner Jan. 29, 1946 

